Front-operated circuit interrupters



M. BINGENHEIMER 2,

nite

ThiS invenfion felatos to fTont opefated S/toheS, and, InoTo JafficU1ar1y to visible-blade afcextinguiShing diS- connecting SWitcheS.

n object of the invention is to pfovide an iInpToved ffontope-fated arc-eXtinguishing Svitch in vhich the Inovable contact is viSible in the o en position of the SWitch.

Anothef obiect of the invention iS to pfovide an n proved front-o efated afcextinguishing Svvitch in Which the n1oVble contaof iS viSible in the ope n pcSition of the SWitCh and having a cover on a poffion of the front of the s,itch so aS not fo obScufe the n1ovable confact.

Lf1ofhef obiect of tlle invention is to pfovide a ffontopefated diSconnect SVvitch having baffiefS fofIT1ing spaceS in Which the oleS of the sWitch are Inoonted, the SWitch haVing arc-extinguishing nleans in Said SpaceS and tef n1inalS in said spaceS at each end and covef nleanS coveT ing Said spaceS including the tefn1inalS but eXcepting the ofc-extingoishing n1eans.

z^xno-thef obiect of the invention iS to pfovide a ffont opefoted disconnect SvVitch having barrierS fofning S aceS i11 Which the poloS of fhe SWitch aTe Inounted and an operating ITlechaniSIn disposed in the oenfef Space.

Z1othef obiect of the invention iS fo pfoVide a ffonf opefated disconnect svvitch accoTding to the pfeceding afagfaph in vvhich Ineans is providod fo fetUTn the oper 3ting Inechanisn1 fo the on position in the event the loved to the off position.

Anofher object of the invention iS to provide an in1 pfoved ffont-operafed arcexfinguiShing SWifch having Iine terTninals at one end and load teTninalS af the othef end in which the fnovabfe contacts are visible i.n the open position of the SWitch and having a covef on a poftion of the front of the Svvifch Said covef covefing t11e load fof IninalS and a poftion of the switch So as not to obScufe the 111oVa'ble contactS, and having a Second coveT o n a poftion of the ffont of the SWifCh CoVefing the line ter n1inaIS.

The invontion, bofh as to StTuctufe and opefafion, to gethof v/ith additional objectS and advantageS fhereof, WiH be best UndefSfood ffom the folloWfng detailed de ScTi tion of Sevefal eIT1b(diITlentS thereof When read in Coniunction With the accoInpanying dravVingS.

In said drawings= FigUfe 1 is a plan vievV of an enClosing cabinet ond oporating deVice for an arc-extingUiShing diSconnect s v vifch, conStructed in accofdance vifh ofinciples of the invention, the Svitch opeTatfI1g handle being ShoVI1 in the on positioI1 Fig. Z is an en]afged vefficaI Sectiooal vieW of a pof fio11 of the enclosing cabinef taken inside tho cabinef Showing fhe handle rneChanisfn on the covef in elevation and shovving an elevational secfional view taken tllroI1gh the center pole of the sWitch;

Fig. 3 is a top plan vieW of the switch shown i11 Ffg Z; Fig. 4 iS an elevational Sectiooal view of a SWifch of a SomeWhat different type and Fig. 5 iS a top plan vievv of the sWitch shown in Fig. 4.

Refefling fo FigS. 1 and Z ofthe dfaWingS an afc exinguishing SWitch, indicafed geneTaHy at iS n1oUnted in a Inetal enclosure conlpTising a baSe )oftion fl and o cover 5 hinged thefeto, and iS opefated, v/ith tho cover f5 cloSed, by an operating Inecha,niSIn indicafed geneTany of f5 v/hCh is Tnounted solely on the covef f3.

The SWitch 0 con1 fiSeS a baSe 7 of one-piece inSIllatng nafeTial having o1]ter barfieIS and inneT bafriefS l nolded integfal thefewith. The baffiefs between ffloIn forIn three feCeSSeS of con1paftInenfS eXtonding the Iength of the base, The Switch fff coInpTiseS Sfationafy f)L1tt Co.ntacts 23 and Inovable blltt confactS Z5 fof each pole of fhe SWifch- The SfafiollaTy confactS aTe secufed to the baSe l7 by Ineans of ScreWS 27 Which also SecI1res a conducting StTip Z to the baSe. The conducting sffip 29 iS pfovided af itS outef end Vvith a fefTina1 connecfor 3,

The Inoving Contact Z5 is Inounted on the ffee end of o fesiHent SWitch arn1 33 vVith one e nd of a fiexible con ductof 35 between the contact 25 and the SWitch aTIn 33, the paffS being bfazed foT good electfical contact- The other end of the Hexible Conductof 35 is bfaZed to a con- (iocfing stfip So which af ifs oUfef end iS pfoVided vith a tefl11inal 38 The resilient sWitch aTInS 35 foT the t]1fee ooS of the switch ae affanged fof sin1ultaneouS opefa fion by n1eans of a pivoted inSulating tie baT 57 vVhich is SHifably pivotally Inounted by nTeans of pivot pinS 39 (only one being Shown) vVhich eXtend t11fough o eningS in bearing bracketS (Fig, 3) 1T1ounted on the base 7. Each of the svvitch arn1S 33 is Inounted on a bfacket 43 Which is Tigidly secufed to the tio faf 57,

The fie bar 57 is opefated to ope and cloSe the con factS by neanS of a toggle IIlecflaniSIn coIn fising a paif of toggle linlS 45 and 47 pivotally connected together by a knee piVot )in Tho toggle link 5 iS ivota1ly con necfed by IT1eanS of a pivot pin 5f to an afIn 53 on the bTacket 5 of the centef pole, and the togglo lfnk 47 is pivoted by Ineans of a pin 55 to a fixed suppoft Inen]bef 57. The suppoft IneTnbef 57 is Inounted at one eno on a pin 5 s1ppofted in a paiT of spaced ffame membeTS of (ooly one being Shown) and is feStTained at the othef end by a pin o3 alSo SUppofted in tho fl-ame nlen1bef of, A U-shapcd opefating levef 55 having an inSHlating handle 57 noUnted on the bight poftion o5 thefeof, is pivotaHy Suppoffed in VShaped TecesseS 7 iI1 the flan1e Inenlbef of. ()vercenfef S rings 73 afe connecfed undef tenSion befween the bight o9 of the operating levef o5 and fhe knee pfvot pin 49 of the toggle 4547.

The SvVitc11iS opeTated to open the contactS by clockviSe 111oVefnent of the handlo 67 ffoII1 the poSitio1 shown ifL Fig. Z. ThiS InoveS fhe lfne of action of the ovefcenfer Spfings 73 acfosS fo the Tight of the pivot 55 Whereupon the foTCo exefted by fhe ovefcentef SpfingS CauseS c()1la Se of the toggle 5-7 and oponing movement of the SWitch afIns 33 to open the contacts with a snap action.

The contactS aTe cfoSed by Teverse n1ove1ent of the handle 57 fhat is, in a coUnfefclockviSe difection back to the Fig. Z position. ThiS Inoves the line of actio11 of the Spfings 75 oveT to the leff of the pivot 55 vVheTeupon the fofce of the Spfings 73 exeffed on the toggle 45-47 eXtendS the togglo to an ovefSet position (Fig. Z) in Vvhich the knee pivot pin 49 is in engagenlent With a pfojection 7 on theouppoTt nleInbef 57. The action of extending the toggle 4547 fotates the tie baf 57 and siII1111taneouSly n1oves all of tho svvitch afInS to the cIoSed po sition fo c1ose the contacts vvith a snap action.

1rceXtingHishefS 5 (FigS. 2 and 3) aTe provided fo exting11iSh the afcS dfavvn by the sepafation of the con facfS. The ofc-eXtinguiShers afe of tho Spaced late type 9 in the open position of the SWitch arInS, a poftion of Said cover eXtending beyond Said barriefS at t11e end of Safd baSe adiacent Said contacts.

4. A SWifch fof controHing an electTic circUit conpfiS ing a baSe of Inolded insulating ITlateTiaL insulating baT Tiefs on Said baSe foTII1ing CoInpaTfnents extonding the ]ength of the baSe, StationaTy and Inovable butt contactS in each coIn aftfnent, a nlovable sVvitch arfn in each coIn pafonent having ffle ITlovable bLItt confaCt thefeo11, an op erating InechaniSIn foT said switch aTlnS disposod in fhe centeT con1pafnenf, covef IneanS foTIned fro n1 a Haf Sheet of inSulating InateTial coveTing Said cofnpaftlnents but leaving Said n1ovable butt contacfs exposed so that Said lT1ovable butt contaCts are visible flom the ffont of said sWitoh at leasf in the o en poSition of said svvitch aTInS, and a poftion of Said cover eXtending beyo1d Said baTrierS at the end of said baSe adjacent said Contacts and forIned downwaTdly to cover part of the ends of Safd baSe ad iacent Said contactS and forn1ed dovVnWardly to covef PaTt of the endS of Said compaTtmentS.

A SWitch foT controlling an efectric circUit coInpfiS ing o baSe of moIded inSUlating nlatefiaf, inSulating baT- fiers on Sai(f base forIning coInpartnlents, sfationafy and nlovable butt contacts in each coln1aTtInent, 3 Inovable Svvitch aTm in each cofnpaftInent hoving the n1ovable butt contacts thefeo n, 'aI1 operating InechaniSIn for Said Svvitoh arn1S disooSed in the centef coIn arfn1ent ooInpfiS ing a handle Inovable to o en and closed positio nS to effect Inoven1ent of Said SWitch arn1S to open and closed oSitionS, coveT Ineans of insulating nlaterial CoveTing Said conpaftnlents but leaving said movable butt Contacts eX- posed so fhat Said Inovable butt oontactS are viSible fTon the front of the switch at leaSt in the open position of said Svvitch aTT1S, and Spfing n1eanS connected to Said SwitCh handle to Iflove Said handle fron1 Said open poSition t() Said closed poSition upon releaSe thereof when said handle iS n1oved to said opon oSition to effect opening moven1ent of said svVitch arn1S and said btltt oontaCts fail to open.

6. A Switch for contfoHing an electric cifcuit coInpris ing a baSo of onepiece Inolded inSulating Inaterfal, bar- TieTS I1olded integfal Wifh Said baSe forIning conT aft- I1entS, Safd baffiefS being open at fhe top, SfationaTy and n1ovable b11tt contactS iI1 each of Said ooInpaftnlents, a Inovable SWitch afn1in each oofnparfInent having the IIlovoble bIltt contactS thefeon, a covef plate Inonnted on Said bafTiefS ovef Said coInpartnontS, Said cover pfate hving Sight openingS theTein ove1^ said ContactS So that Said nlov able contacts afe viSibe froIn tho front of Said Svvitch of leaSt in tho opon poSition thefeof, operating nlochaniSIn in one of Sad compffn1enS colnpfiSing a handle movable to open and closed ostionS to offect novefnent of Said Swifch arInS to opoo and doSed poSiooS, 8nd S fing IneanS Connected o the hanofe of S2d Svifch to nloVo Said handle ffon Said oon position to Safd c!osod poSition 1po n folease thofoof whon Soid hondfe haS beon n1o ed to Soid open poSifion to offocf ooening rno en1ent of Said sVVitch afo1S and Said butt contactS faiI to SepaTafe 7. A SWitch for ControHin on o!ecffio circuf Con1priS- ing a base of one-piece n1olded inSulating n1ateTial, bar- TiefS n10lded integTaI With Said baSe forn1ing compaft nenS a aif of Stationary and n1ovable buft confaots in eaCh CoInparfnent noovabe Svitch ofIn n eaCh CoInaftInent having the novable bl1tt contacts thereon, an opefafing InechaniSn1 fof said Svvifch arnlS diSpoSod in the center conlparonent, te1-lTinals in each coIn artn1ont at the ends of Said baSe, a cover portioo of inSulating nxaterial n]oonted on Said barrieTS and CovTing the poTtionS of Said con )arfInenfS beSide the operafing InechaniSm and the toflTlinaIS at one end of Said baSe, and a Socond cover poftion coveTing the terninaIS at tho ofher end of Said baSe, Said coverS being diSpoSed and arranged fo have expoSed the Inovable ConfactS So that they are viSible froIn the f1ont of fhe Svvitch af leaSt in the ooon posftion of Said Witch aInS 8- In a switch for oontroHing an eloctric circuit coo1- iSing a baSe of one-pieco Inolded inSulating InateriaL insulating bafffers on Said baSe forn1ing coInpaTtInents, Stafionary and Inovable blltt confacts in each compaTtnenf, a Inovable svvitch arII1 in eaoh conlpaftolent having the Iov able bUtt oontactS thereon, an opeTating nlechanisnl for Said Svvitch afnTS diSpoSed in the ceI1teT coTnpaTtn1ent, an afc extinguiSher in each conlpartIT1ent, a coveT poftion forIned froIn a Hat sheet of inSLllating nlaterial InoUntod on said baffierS and covering the poTtfonS of Said coII1part nlents below Said aTC eXtingUiSher, and a second cover portion forn1ed ffon1 a at Sheet of inSulating InateTial covefing the poftionS of said Conlpartn1entS above said arC extinguiShefS, olle of Said coverS having a porfion extending beyond Said baffierS, Said covefs expoSing the Inovable oontacfs So that they are viSible fron1 the ffont of the svvitch at leaSt in the open position ofSaid Svvitch arIns.

9. II1 a Svvitch fof controlling an eloctTic cirouit con1 priSing a base of one-piece n1olded inSUlating Inaterial, fn Sufating bafierS on Said baSe forn1ing coIII artTnentS, Sfa tionary and olovable butt contactS in each conpaTt1ent, a movable SWitch arn1in each con1partment having the Inov able butt contact thereon, 'an operating InechaniSIn fof said svvitch afIns comprising a handle for moving Said Svvitch afInS, an arc extinguiSher in eaoh oonlpartn1ent, a cove1 oTtfon foTnled ffoIn a Haf Shoef of inSulafing Ina terial nlonnted on Safd baTfiers and coveTing the portions of Said con1paTfInents below said arc eXfinguishers and bo Side the opeTating n1echaniSn1, said oover ]1aving an o en ing therein thfough Which the handle of the opefating InechaniSIn extends, and a Second coveT portion Inounted on Said barriefs and covefing the poftions of Said coInpart- InentS above Said aTC eXfinguishers, Said Second Cover hav ing a poTtion eXtending beyond Safd barTieTS, Said covef portions being S aced a aff to eXpoSe the n1ovable contactS So that they are Visible fron1 the ffont of the Svitch 'at least in the open position of Said SvVitoh afInS.

10. An encloSed svVitch having a meInber movable to on and off poSitionS to opefate S3id switch, a caSing in vvhich said SWitch is mounted, an openable cover fo1 Safd casing, 'a n1ovable )erating Inen1beT having Ineans thereon engaging and operating Said IT1ovable IneInber of the Svvitch, Sai(1.IneanS disengaging Said Inovable nlen1bef When Said covel iS opened, a handlo on said cover having nleanS engaging ond operating Said Tnovable operafing ITleInbeT to open and Close Said svvitch, Said handle being Inovable to an on, an off and an open cover poSition, said handle vhen moved to said open Covef poSi tion moving Said Inovable n1enber to Said off poSitioI1, and S fing TT1e ans connected to the IT1ovable Inefnbef of Said Switch fo rnove Said Inovable Inenber ffoI1 said Off poSitio11 to Said on poSition if Said SWitch failS to open when said Covef iS o po ned- 11. An encloSed S ZtCf cofnpfising sepafable co ntact nleanS, operating nlechaniSm con1priSing an oporating lover and a handle thereon I1ovabfe fo on and positions to open and cloSe sid contact IneanS a casing in which Said SWifch iS InoUnted, an open ble cover for said casing, a sHdable opefang n1omber ITlounted on said cover and having fneanS hofeon reSfent1y engaging and operaffng Said hRndle of Said SWitch, a movable mombeT on Said Covef havfng n1eans thereon ongaging and opefat ing Said Slidable opefating fnen1ber to effect opening and closing of said confaCtS S Ting n1eans Connected to fetL1fn Said Tnovable Tnen1bef to tho on poSition whon Said cover iS oponed and Said nov3blo neTI1bef iS releaSed, and other S ring IneanS attached to the operating levef of Said SvVitch to refufn Said SvVitch handle to the on poSitioI1in the event said oonfaCt TneanS failS fo open when the cover iS o ened and Said Swfch handle iS feleased after being Tnoved to effect opening of Said contacts.

12. An enclosed SWitCh for controHing an efectfic circuit coInpfiSing a baSe of ins11fating InatefiaL inSulating baffier on Said base foTIning coII1pa1^fI1entS Stationary 1 1 and n1ovab1e butt contactS in each coInpaftTnent, a nTovab1e svVitch afn1 in each coInpaTonent having Said I1()v able butt confacts thefeon, an opeTafing n1echaniSn1 fof Sa1d Svvitch aTn1s diSpoSed in the centel coInpaftInent con1- pfiSing a handle Inovable to on and Off positions to Inove Said Svvifch arInS, a Casing in which Said swffch iS xnouted, an openable covef fot Said casing, a S1idable op eTating fTleIT1ber II1ollnted on said cover and having Te Silient n1eanS theTeon engaging and opefati ng said handle of Said Svvifch, said reSi11ent IneaI1S diSengaging Said hand1e when said coveT iS opened, a n1ovable neInbeT on Sad openab1e Covef n1ovable to on, off, and open covef I)( SitioI1S aT1d having nleanS engaging and opefating said S1idable operating IneInbeT, Said Inovab1e TneInbe1 When Inoved to Said Open cover )(Sit1on fo e11ect Open1ng of 7 Said contactS, SpTing IneanS connected to fetUrn Said 1a11(11e to the on position if Said oontacts fai1 to o en vVhen Said Inovable nlen1bef is Inoved to the open covef posifion and Said coveT is o ened, and covef n1eanS nlonnted o11 said baniefS covefing said con1 affInenfS and having openings thefein ovef Said contacfS So that said contactS are visible ffoI11 the flont of said Svvitch, Said coveT n1eans pfeventing contact vv1th t11e 11ve paTtS of Said SWitch When Said openable covef is open.

13. A Switch for contfo111ng an e1ectfic circU1t compf15- ing a baSe of mo1ded insu1ating mateTiaL inSU1ating baT TiefS extending upwafd1y on Said baSe pfoviding a p1uTa1- ity of po1e spaces thefebeheen, Stationary and Inovb1e butt contactS in each of a p1Ufality of the SpaceS betWeen the barTieTS, a Inovable Switch afn1 in each of a p1ufa1ity of the Spaces and each having one of the lI1ovab1e butt con factS thefeon, an opefating Inechanism for Said Svvitch aTIns, Said opefating InechaniSn1 being mouoted on Said baSe and inclllding a nlovab1e operating n1en1ber eXtending upwafd1y froIn the base, WiTe-feceiving terInia11emberS on Said baSe adjacent one eI1d thefeof, cover meanS of in- Su1afing fflatefia1 n1onnted ovef Said baffieTS and 1eavfng sai(1 nTovable contacfs eX osed so as to be viSi1)1e fToIn the front of the switch at leaSt in the open os1tion of the Svvifoh afInS, a poftion of Said covef Ineans eXtending ovef 12 and beyond Said vvifereceiving feTmina1 InembefS, and a p1UTa1ify of open1ngs in Said oovef IneanS one of which iS over each of said fe1Inin1 IneInbefS to give acceSS thefeto,

14. A Sw1tch fo1 contro11ing an electTic Circuit coII1 fiS ing a baSe of mo1ded insu1ating fnateTia1, inSU1ating baf TiefS extending upwardly on Said base pfoviding a p1ufa1ity of po1e spaces thefebetvveen, Stationafy and Inovab1e co n tacts 1n each of a pluraHty of the spaceS between the baf T1efS, a Inovab1e sVvitch afII1 in each of a p1UTa11fy of the spaCES and each having one of the nTovab1e confactS thefe o11, an operafing n1echaniSIn fof said svVifch afn1S, Said op eTating IneChaniSIn being n1oUnted on Said base aITd in c1uding a n1ovab1e opefafing IneIT1ber eXfending Upwafd1y ffoIn the baSe, vvife-receiviI1g teTn1inal n1eInbefS on Said base adjacent one end thereof, covef Ineans fof1ed fToff1 a Hat Sheet of insu1afing Inateria1 moUnted ovef Said baI- eTs and 1eaving Said movable contactS expoSed So aS to be visible froIn the front of the SWitch at 1oaSt in 1he open position of the Switch afnS, n opening in So(1 Cover IneanS thfough vvhich the upward1y-exte11ding opefafing IneInbef iS I1ovab1e, a poffion of Said cover n1eanS extending oveT and beyond said vvifefeceiving fefIn1na1 n1enT berS, and a p1UTa11ty of openingS in Sa1d Covef II1e11S one of which is ovef each of said tefn1ina1 IneInbofS to giVe acceSS thereto.

1efeTences (:1fe1 in the fi1e of this pate,nf

UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,Z48 603 Benzon Dec. 4 1917 Z,047 739 Linga1 1u1y 14, 1936 Z 13,371 vvefnef No 1, 1938 Z 14S,811 BaSt 1an. 3L 1939 Z,Z31,07Z 1ackson Fob. 11, 1941 Z,318,Z98 Doffman ef aL May 4, 1943 Z,408,16S Haffawood Sept. 24, 1946 Z,49Z 0o9 Saudin et a1 Dec. 20, 1949 Z SSO,1Z SChne1ef et aL Apf. 24, 1951 

